Engine starting mechanism



R. M. NARDONE- v ENGINE STARTING MECHANISM Sept. 8, 1942,`

Filed oct. 2, 1957 Patented Sept. 8, v1942 l UNITED s'm'rl-sv PATENT orrics ENGINE STARTING MECSM Romeo M. Nardone, East Orange, N. 3., assgnor, y

by mesne assignments, to Bendix- Aviation Corporation, South Bend, Ind., a corporation Aof Delaware application october 2, 1937, serai No. 167,054

s claims. (c1. 12s- 179) This invention relates to engine starters adapt-V ed for utilizing duid pressure, Vas from air precompressed into a reservoir or from an explosive cartridge, the duid pressure being operable upon a conned piston in the illustrated embodiment of the invention.

' ing a corresponding number of turns of an engine engaging 'clutch independently of any rotation of the piston.

Another object of the invention is to provide closed in my appucauon Nb. 100,000 fuea in the United States Patent Office on September 9, 1936,- the nature and scope of which improvements are indicated in the accompa drawing and the following particular description ci, one form oi mechanism embodying the invention. It is to be understood, however, that the drawing is for the purpose of' illustration only. andis not de -A signed a's a definition of the limits of the invenfor this purpose- Inthe`drawingr`= L Fig. i is a longitudinal sectional-view ofV a de# vice embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is'a transverse view along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view oi the valve assembly` V With reference to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the piston actuated unit is contained within a sectional housing including cylindrical parts il and I6, the latter having a ange i2 by which it is secured to the engine crankcase i3 as by bolts it, the angebeing conveniently of a size standardized for aircraft engine starters. ,The engine crankshaft, or other drive shan. (not shown) is 'provided with a v clutch-element il engageable by the piston actuated clutch-element i5 as will be later more fully "Cylinder Il has a head end i8 and a crank end 2li, the latter being shown as an integral part of Aa splined tube 2 l. Slidably fitted vwithin the cylinder I1 is a piston 23 movable `with a hollow internally and helically grooved screw 2B which is externally splined as at 25, to cooperate with the internally splined tube 2l, a free sliding action being facilitated by provision of balls 21.

screw 2l! by helical grooves or threads 29 and 30 which permit the axial travel of the piston 23 but cause rotation-of the screw 22v because of frictionrducing balls 36 inserted in the helical 5 grooves 29 and 3B. An anti-friction thrust bearing 32 is preferably interposed between a flanged Y skirt 3d on rear end of spacer 36a and aninwardly extending circular rim 33 of the cylindrical part i6. The inwardly extending rim 34h `lil On the forward end of spacer 34a takes the thrust asvjaw i5 rides into mesh with engine member il. A spring 3l has one end resting against the closure plate 2li of the cylinder I1, and its opposite end abuts the thrust ring 38 A which moves forward with the piston 23. Piston improvements in the' type of engine starter disrings 39 insure against the loss of pressure as .the piston moves forward, and also yieldably oppose rotation of the piston, even though twisting of spring 31 should occasionally cause ring 38 to V2l) rotate to some extent (the said ring 38 having ay ing' any fouling that may occur where combustible tion, reference'being had tothe appended sure to move the piston 23.

`The present invention also preferably includes 'improved means for automatically controllingthe exhaust of the uid pressure from the cylinder upon completion of each operation. This exhaust control may be eiected by providing'an exhaust valve 42 adapted to cooperate with an exhaust port 3 conveniently formed in the housing B, and communicating witl'i an exhaust connection 45 (Fig. 2) leading to any desired point. In the case of an airplane, for example, this exhaust connectionrwill lead to a point exteriorly of the fuselage. The valve 42 is carried by a'stem i6 which is of such a length that with the piston in the position indicated in Figure l,

a spring 49 will bear against an enlarged head 52 on the stem 46 to hold Valve B2 closed. Into housing 44 there extends a cup-shaped grid 40 winch receives that part of the powder charge which is propelled from the breech into the feed tube 5i), said solid charge being then consumed by the generated heat, and the resultant Agases pass through ports 5I into the chamber 56. Th is 50 fluid pressure will act upon the head portion oi' the valve 42 in such manner as to assist the spring 49 in maintaining the said exhaust valve 42 closed; but as the piston nearly reaches thevend of its movement, a collar 53 extending inwardly Y Asecond screw 22 is drivably connected with the 55 of piston 23 and surrounding the stemi46 will be brought into engagement with the head 52, and will be effective to unseat the exhaust valve 42. The exhaust valve having been unseated in the manner described, the fingered catch 48 (Figs.

1 and 3) will cooperate with the internally formed 5 circular bead 51 of valve 42 for yieldably holding said valve in open position, its maximum open-` ing movementbeing likewise limited by the restraining action of the iingers of said element 48. Ilhe neck-portion 54 of catch 48 is .externally threaded, as shown, for adjustably positionable retention in the housing 44.

'Ihe vpiston having completed its operative stroke, and the exhaust valve having been opened,

the piston will be urged on its return stroke by the 15 coil spring 31. During this return movement, the exhaust valve being held open, the cylinder. will be effectively scavenged. Due to the action of the catch 48 the valve will remain open until such time as the 'piston collar 53 is brought to 20 bear against the valve stem 41 for again seating the valve. This insures closing movement of the valve at the time the piston has substantially completed its return movement, the closing being initiated and assisted by the action of the spring 2 means 49 above described. There is thus provided automatically controlled exhaust means, which exhaust means is of such construction as to remain open during the major portion of the return stroke of the piston so as to aid attain- 3 ment of substantially complete scavenging; moreover, the streamlining of the valve surface, as indicated at 55 (Fig. 3) tends to accelerate the 'exhaust flow and thus provides'an added assurance of complete scavenging.

By reason of the action of spring-pressed balls 58 upon recess 59 in sleeve 22,.the initial axial movement of the piston 23"wil1 be transmitted to said sleeve 22, and the resultant axial thrust this operation toroidal 'spring 1| exerts a radially directed pressure, through leather sealing gasket 12, upon the clutch member I5, producing a friction which prevents too rapid rotation of the member I5 prior to complete meshing, and hence tends toaccelerate complete' meshing, as well as to insure a tight sealing of the unit against seepage of oil from the engine crankcase along thesurface of the clutch I5, and into the starting apparatus.

What is claimed is:

1. In starting apparatus of the type embodying v an engine engaging .law clutch member, lautomatic means having engagement with said jaw clutch lmember for facilitating movement of the latter into engagement with a member oi' the engine to be started, said automatic means including a flexible ring of organic material, and means for exerting an inwardly directed pressure on said ring to reduce the amount of relative rotation between said ring-and jaw clutch member.

2. In starting apparatus of the type embodying an engine engaging clutch member, automatic means having engagement with saidl clutch member for facilitating movement of the latter into engagement with a member of the engine to be started, said automatic means including a flexible ring of organic material surrounding said clutch member, and further including a driv-- :ing part splined to said clutch member, and means including radially pressed elements engaging said driving part to advance both said wm be yieldabiv imparted to jaw ls through a. 4

f 'compressible spring 62 mounted on a, rod 63 having at its outer end a nut 64 permitting adjustment of the action of spring 62. Upon resistance to axial travel (as by collision of the tooth corners) spring 62 willpermit the continued advance 45 offsleeve 22 under the urge of the balls 58 thereupon. Meanwhile the action of the threads 29,

` 3l will produce suflicient rotation of sleeve 22 and hence of clutch member I5, splined thereto, to

relieve the conditionbf corner tooth contact, 50

whereupon spring 62 becomes effective to complete the"meshing (engaging) action. During clutch member, and further including a driving part splined to said clutch member, and means including a uuid-pressure actuated plunger and radially pressed elements carried by said plunger to engage said driving part and advance b oth said driving part and said clutch member axially to an extent sumcient to produce movement of said clutch member to engine engaging position.

ROMEO M. NARDONE. 

